05.103

Kaṇva said:

Garuda, the mighty one, heard what had happened—how Shakra had granted life to the serpent, O Bhārata. (5-103-1)

The bird Suparṇa, utterly enraged, generated a mighty wind with his wings and, having blocked the three worlds, rushed upon Vāsava. (5-103-2)

Garuḍa said:

O lord, why, out of disregard, do you now fear for me regarding hunger, after having granted me the boon to act as I wish—why have you gone back on your word? (5-103-3)

Food has been prescribed for me by the Creator—the lord of all beings—for all living creatures by nature; for what reason do you forbid it? (5-103-4)

This great serpent has been encircled and set (for sacrifice), and I have placed a great condition, O god; a great obligation must be maintained by me in this matter. (5-103-5)

However, since this has happened otherwise, I am not willing to harm anyone else; O king of the gods, you act as you wish, according to your own desire. (5-103-6)

Therefore, I will give up my life, as will my attendants and all the servants in my house; may you be satisfied, Vāsava. (5-103-7)

I also indeed deserve this, and even more, O slayer of Bala and Vṛtra—I, who am the lord of the three worlds, have come to be in the state of another's servant. (5-103-8)

O lord of the gods, as long as you abide, Viṣṇu is not the reason for my sovereignty; for my eternal lordship over the three worlds, O Vāsava, rests in you. (5-103-9)

My mother is Dakṣa's daughter, my father is Kaśyapa; I too am able to bear all the worlds with ease. (5-103-10)

My own immense strength, too, is unbearable for all beings, and I also performed a very great deed in the battle with the Daityas. (5-103-11)

Śrutashrī, Śrutasena, Vivasvan, Rocanamukha, Prasabha, and Kālakaksha—the Daityas—were all slain by me as well. (5-103-12)

But because I serve at the standard with effort and also carry your younger brother, for that reason you look down on me. (5-103-13)

Who else is even capable of bearing such a burden? Who else is there stronger than me, I who, being outstanding, carry this one together with his kinsmen? (5-103-14)

But when you disregarded me and excluded me from the meal, my honor was lost—because of you and because of this, O Vasava. (5-103-15)

Of these mighty and powerful ones born among the Ādityas, you indeed are the strongest of them all, especially. (5-103-16)

So I, without fatigue, am carrying you with just one part of my wing. Consider carefully, dear one—who, then, is truly strong here? (5-103-17)

Kaṇva said:

Hearing those terrible words of the bird about what would come, the wielder of the chariot wheel, seeking to provoke the unshaken Tārkṣya, said: (5-103-18)

O Garuḍa, you think yourself strong, yet you are truly very weak. Enough of praising yourself in my presence, O offspring of an egg. (5-103-19)

Even the entire three worlds are unable to bear my body; I alone with my own power support myself, and I sustain you as well. (5-103-20)

Now then, you carry just this one of my arms—the left one. If you can bear even this one, your boast will be vindicated. (5-103-21)

Then the Blessed One placed his arm on his [the other's] shoulder. Oppressed by the weight, he fell down, overcome and unconscious. (5-103-22)

He considered the weight of the whole earth together with its mountains to be equal to the weight of a single branch of his body. (5-103-23)

But the stronger did not oppress him by force; therefore, the unfailing one did not lose his life. (5-103-24)

His wings disabled, his body collapsed, confused and distressed, the bird then let his feathers fall, crushed by the heavy burden. (5-103-25)

Then the bird, the son of Vinatā, bewildered, distressed, and miserable, bowed his head to Viṣṇu and spoke a few words. (5-103-26)

Lord, essence of the world, I have been crushed to the ground by an unrestrained arm, strong as your own. (5-103-27)

O lord, you ought to forgive me—as I am distraught, of little understanding, and scorched by the fever of battle—being the bird who dwells upon your banner. (5-103-28)

O Lord, your supreme power was not known to me, O mighty one. Therefore, I considered my own strength to be unequal to that of others. (5-103-29)

Then the Blessed One showed favor to Garuḍa; out of affection he told him, 'Do not do so again.' (5-103-30)

In the same way, my son, as long as you do not reach those heroic sons of Pandu in battle in Gandhara, so long you will live. (5-103-31)

Bhīma, the foremost among attackers, the mighty son of the Wind, and Dhanañjaya, the son of Indra—by whom indeed could they be slain in battle? (5-103-32)

Viṣṇu, Vāyu, Śakra, Dharma, those two—the Aśvin twins—these gods, by what reason could you possibly face them? (5-103-33)

Therefore, prince, enough of your hostility—make peace. You ought to protect the family by means of Vasudeva, the holy one. (5-103-34)

Indeed, Nārada here, possessed of great austerity, is present to all of this; he knows the greatness of Viṣṇu, who wields the discus and mace. (5-103-35)

Vaiśampāyana said:

But Duryodhana, having heard that, sighed and, with a frowning face, looked intently at Radheya and laughed aloud. (5-103-36)

Disregarding the words of the seer Kaṇva, the evil-minded one struck his thigh, shaped like an elephant's trunk, and said this. (5-103-37)

O great sage, just as I was created by the Lord, and as my fate and what is to come for me have been set, so I live. What will your rambling words achieve? (5-103-38)